328
with the folk; and he lamented with groans and tears and the tongue of the case repeated the following verses:
On the fifth day they departed in the eventide, and I Took of them the last leave-taking, when they went and left me here.
When they turned away and left me, lo! the soul with them did go. And I said, “Return.” It answered, “Where, alas! should I recur;
Shall I come back to a body whence the life and blood are flown? Nothing now but bones are left it, rattling in the sepulchre.
Lo! my eyes, excess of weeping hath put out their sight, I trow, And a deafness eke is fallen on my ears: I cannot hear.”
He abode a long while in great grief for his father, till one day, as he sat in his house, there came a knocking at the door; so he rose and opening the door, found there a man who had been one of his father’s friends and boon-companions. He entered and kissing Noureddin’s hand, said to him, ‘O my lord, he who has left the like of thee is not dead; and to this pass (death) came even the lord of the first and the last.[1] O my lord, take comfort and leave mourning!’ Thereupon Noureddin rose and going to the guest-chamber, transported thither all that he needed. Then his friends gathered together to him and he took his slave-girl again and collecting round him ten of the sons of the merchants, began to eat meat and drink wine, giving entertainment after entertainment and dispensing gifts and favours with a lavish hand, till one day his steward came to him and said, ‘O my lord Noureddin, hast thou not heard the saying, “He who spends and does not reckon, becomes poor without knowing it”?’ And he repeated the following verses:
I’ll hold my money fast, knowing, as well as I know, That ’tis my sword and shield against my every foe.
If I should lavish it on those who love me not, My luck among the folk would change to grief and woe.
So I will eat and drink my wealth for my own good Nor upon any man a single doit bestow.
- ↑ Mohammed.
